Erik ten Hag said Manchester United must ‘take more’ from their early performance whilst sticking to the game plan against Manchester City, before falling to a 3-0 defeat.

The Dutch manager felt that his Red Devils stuck to what was asked of them in the first half, but were undone by the strength of their crosstown rivals, as well as a contentious penalty decision falling the way of Pep Guardiola‘s side.

Rasmus Hojlund was judged to have wrapped his arm around Rodri and tugged him to the ground in the penalty box 24 minutes into the game at Old Trafford, and ten Hag believes it was the moment that turned the match.

Speaking to Sky after the game, ten Hag said: ‘First half, we played very well. The game plan went on how we wanted. We defended very good. They almost didn’t create – one big save from Andre in that start. We had two or three breaks, we had to take benefit from it.

‘We have to take more from it, but the penalty is changing the game. I don’t have a comment on it. I don’t have a comment.’

Erik ten Hag believes his Manchester United side stuck to their first-half game plan on Sunday

He felt that the penalty awarded for Rasmus Hojlund’s foul on Rodri ‘changed the game’

Ten Hag said ‘I don’t have a comment’ on the first-half penalty which saw his side fall behind

Erling Haaland dispatched the penalty to give Man City a 1-0 lead at the break, so ten Hag opted to bring on Mason Mount at the interval in favour of Sofyan Amrabat.

Ten hag explained his move was: ‘To go more offensive, we are losing the game. After half time you expect to go more offensive. Mason Mount had extra offensive power to get in the game.

‘Game plan, first half we were were very disciplined and you can see how successful you can be. The second goal, we made the mistake, we made the wrong decision to go up to the goalkeeper in the wrong moment. And we did not recover quick. They got into the game and power in the midfield, they could switch the game and put players in wrong positions. But it started with us. Then they outplay us.’

As Man United looked to be more creative, Haaland scored a second four minutes into the second half, before Phil Foden added Man City’s third ten minutes from time.

When asked if he regretted the Mount substitution, ten Hag replied:  ‘You can’t say that. We had to create because we are losing the game. You can wait, clear, but when you have Mason Mount on the bench you can expect creativity.’

Hojlund was booed by home fans when he was taken off and replaced by Alejandro Garnacho in the 73rd minute.

Ten Hag said: ‘Rasmus Hojlund is playing every game, he’s not used to it. Against City, he had to work very hard to get the press on. For the team, you had to expect new energy on the pitch.

Hojlund was booed by the home supporters when he was taken off in the second half

Ten Hag said he had no regrets about bringing Mason Mount on and attacking the game

‘The game plan was good. But when you are losing, you have to act as a manager especially when you have a bench and use the bench and use offensive power on the pitch.

‘Last year we were in the same situation, also after the game against City. We have to forget this game and recover on Wednesday.

‘Once again, we have played three times this year against City. We played very good in all those games. First half today was good, we made it difficult for them. The chances were similar and they got the first goal. We played three games well against them.’

On Wednesday night, Man United host Newcastle United in the last-16 of the League Cup, ahead of trips to Fulham and Copenhagen the following week.